The “strap on” supercharger progress..
In the quiet recesses of a dimly lit workshop, where the scent of grease hungs thick in the air, a determined enthusiast embarks on a mechanical odyssey – the daunting task of modifying an aero-engined supercharger to mount at the front of an Alvis Speed 25. The endeavour, riddled with challenges, unfolds like a saga of wrenches, ingenuity, and the relentless pursuit of more horsepower.
The Alvis Speed 25, already a marvel of pre-war engineering, is about to undergo a transformation that would push its limits to new heights. The ambitious enthusiast, Maximus, envisioned the addition of an aero-engined supercharger as the key to unlocking unparalleled performance. Little did he know the trials awaiting him on this road less travelled.
The first hurdle presented itself in the form of spatial constraints. The Alvis’s engine bay, designed for elegance rather than the monstrous appendage of a supercharger, demanded a delicate dance of precision and adaptation. Maximus found himself elbow-deep in measurements, cursing softly as he navigated the labyrinth of pipes, belts, and gears.
Procuring an aero-engined supercharger, a relic from the skies of yesteryear, was no small feat either. Maximus scoured scrapyards, pored over dusty manuals, and exchanged letters with vintage aviation enthusiasts. Eventually, Maximus’s Mentor Richard secured him a gem with worn but promising potential – a contraption that had once harnessed the wind at altitudes where eagles dare to soar. After much 5 axis machining work carried out by Crosthwaite and Gardiner, the gurus of mechanical wind instruments of power, a perfect “blower” awaits its second coming.
Now comes the challenge of mounting. The Alvis, proud and stoic, resists the intrusion of this newfound mechanical symbiote. Custom brackets, fabricated with precision and patience, become the unsung heroes in this mechanical opera. Hours turn into days, days into months as years pass, Maximus wrestles with the challenge, coaxing it into a harmonious marriage with the Alvis’s engine.
The intricacies of airflow, fuel delivery, and tuning unveiled themselves as the next formidable foes. Maximus consulted with fellow tinkerers, delved into arcane tomes of engineering, and occasionally muttered incantations of frustration as he fine-tuned the symphony of combustion that would soon emanate from the reinvigorated Alvis.
Amidst the clangor of tools and the occasional victory shout, Maximus persists. The amalgamation of aero and automotive technology nearing completion. The Alvis, once normally aspirated is now on the cusp of a new era, a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who dare to push the boundaries of mechanical innovation.
